The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-10-02

to Ash Meadows, on the California State
line. In these days of railway talk it
will prove interesting reading matter:
SALT LAKE CRY, Utah.
September 18th. 1887.
Dear Sir.-Obedient to your instruc-
tions, we feel much pleasure in present.
ing to you the result of our examina-
tions of the extent of country lying be-
tween Black Rock Station on the Utah
Central Railway, and the head of t e
Amargosa River, in the vicinity of Ash
Meadows, on the State line OF Cali
fornia.
The object being to develop a railroad
route which shall command the bust
ness of the numerous mining camps on
the line of aud contiguous to our route.
Our elevations were taken with aneriod
barometers, and, wherever practicable,
the distances were AIKEN by odOmeter
otherwise we could only approximate.
Since examinations develop number
of routes leading from certain points
into the nucleus of important mineral
districts, we will merely suggest leav-
ing it to the result of future surveys aud
the company's option as to which shall
be adopted.
From Black Rock Station the route
bears west across Beaver Greek Valley
and mountain range; keeping its course
through the latter identical with the
wagon road from Fillmore to Preuss
Valley.
DETECTED near the foot of the western
sIope. the course through Preuss Valley
inciines south of west, bordering en-
route the south end of Sewer Lake,
from where it turns more north, skirt
ing the south end of detachment of
low mountains lying immediately ives
of the lake; thence on to the summit OF
White Mountain Pass through the
House and Confusio ranges.
TIE TYPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES
thus far are very favorable.
The summit of Beaver Creek Pass
distant from Black Rock station about
nine miles, has an elevation of $50
feet while the bed of Beaver Creek Val
ley has an elevation of 4 ,525 feet thus
giving an elevation to overcome of 435
feet. For a distance of about SIX
miles, embracing the heaviest work
a maximum grade of 80 feet may be re-
Quired, while over the remaining Cis-
lance the grades will be very light; at
places almost level. The bed Of Beaver
Greek Valley is quite smooth until We
approach the base of the Beaver Greek
range. Here the country becomes some
what irregular and broken some rock
work is encountered, but not to any
serious extent or magnitude. Proceed
ing through Preuss Valley from the
western base of the Beaver Greek range
to where We strike the detached noun
tain chain Just west of Sewer Lake. the
natural features resemble to marked
extent those of Beaver Greek Valley,
but in skirting these hills We are ap-
preaching the northern termination of
the Ha-wah-wah range, where 1t Yeers
TO the west, and is finally lost IN the
House and Confusion ranges. Here
construction begins to assume some
degree of magnitude from the undula-
tons and Irregularities consequent upon
the close proximity of the mountains.
This condition exists only for short
distance when we once more strike q
valley and ascend its incline to the east
ern end of the
WHITE MOUNTAIN PASS.
This pass crosses the House and Con-
fusion ranges at point about six miles
north of the White Mountain proper.
Its summit, distant from Black Rock
about forty miles by travelled route, has
an elevation of 5.5S5 feet above the sea,
and about ], 235 feet above the bed of
Peruss Valley. This difference Of ele-
Vation occurs IN distance of about
nineteen miles, producing an average
grade of sixty-fve feet per mile. The
pass from the eastern entrance to the
summit lies in a smooth gorge bounded
by low hills, its width varying from $50
feet to over 900 feet.
From the summit the course
west is subject TO detour across the
natural incline of the hill to
avoid an abrupt descent down the face
of the slope. For q distance of about
eleven miles, including both sides OF the
pass, q maximum grade of ninety feet
per mile may be required. In the
detour crossing the slope as above des
. cribed, some rock work is unavoidable;
but it exists TO no formidable extent.
In fact, the cost of construction will at
no point be at all excessive. Curvature
will be generally light, and material for
road bed good; bridges few and mex
pensiVe, with stone suitable for all re-
quiremeuts quite convenient. No sde-
quste supply of water exists between
this point and Beaver Greek, though q
few gallons were found in drain pockets
known respectively as Diamond Well in
the vicinity of Sewer Lake, and
CAVE ROCK WELLS
at the eastern end OF the White Noun
tain Pass. From the western end of
White Mountain Pass the route
is southwesterly across a valley formed
between the Confusion Range and
northwest spur from the Ia Wah-wah
Mountains to point at its northern
termination. From this point the route
turns southwark, passing in close prox-
Unity to the Mormon Lakes thence
south westerly to the south termination
of the Snake Mountains and the Lake
Greek Pass, distant from Black Rock |
Station about ninety-four miles.
Between the White Mountain Pass
and the eastern foot Of the Lake Creek |
Pass, distance OF aboCt :ortY-Dine !
miles, grade of sixty feet per mile will !
occur at one point in the vicinity Of |
Gave Rock Wells, and may continue |
for two or three miles. Over the re-